First it is no longer called Western Samoa. Its just Samoa or the formal name Independent state of Samoa.
The elections start today 4th March 2011.
New Zealand occcupied German Samoa at the start of WWII, as Western Samoa. In 1962 the island became independent and it dropped the word Western from its name in 1997.
Western Samoa, Wallis Islands
it is called western Samoa because Samoa is divided into two parts, American Samoa and western Samoa. After colonialism came to Samoa, America took control of Eastern Samoa which adapted the name "American Samoa". While Germany (and later NZ) took control of Western Samoa, who then took on the name "Western Samoa". No called SAMOA. The nation dropped the "western" in 1997.
New Zealand occcupied German Samoa at the start of WWII, as Western Samoa. In 1962 the island became independent from all overseas countries and it dropped the word Western from its name in 1997.
Previous names: * Samoa ~ 1900-1914 * Western Samoa ~ 1914-1997 * Samoa ~ 1997-present
American Samoa is a Trust Territory of the US, not Samoa, which was formerly Western Samoa.
It used to be one whole country. Samoa. Until world war I when the US occupied American Samoa for its naval base in Pago Pago, and Western Samoa was occupied by Germany, and then NZ. Now, Samoa (no longer called Western Samoa) is an independent country, whereas American Samoa is still a US territory (but is governed by Samoan representatives and a Samoan Governor). So now there is American Samoa and Samoa.
American Samoa and Western Samoa (now known as Samoa).
Western Samoa was the colonial name for Samoa, which is an independent country separate from the US territory of American Samoa. The population of Samoa in early 2012 was estimated at 183,000.
Western Samoa Labour Party was created in 1993.
They are the same in that Samoans in American Samoa and Samoa (once Western Samoa) have the same heritage. However, American Samoa is a US territory while Samoa is an independent nation. So they are in effect two different countries.
It was known as "navigators islands" up until the 20th century then Samoa, then Western Samoa, then back to Samoa, so, the word "western" was dropped.